BY NOAH BIERMAN, CHARLES RABIN AND OSCAR CORRAL

Miami-Dade's new mayor is Carlos Alvarez, the former county police chief who ran on a platform of reform, and whose strongest promise to voters was to restore trust and accountability at County Hall.

By choosing a cop and not Commissioner Jimmy Morales, a seasoned, Harvard-educated politician, voters appeared to be sending a message that they wanted a fresh approach.

Voters propelled Alvarez into the most visible political job in the state's biggest county, with a strong mandate to fix a county government plagued with corruption scandals and allegations of mismanagement.

Alvarez promised not to let them down.

''It wasn't a very complicated message; it was a very simple message,'' Alvarez told a crowd of supporters in the gymnasium of St. Timothy's Catholic School in South Miami-Dade. ``It was a message of bringing reform to county government. Now the responsibility is on my shoulders to make sure that we make this a great community.''

DIFFICULT LOSS

For Morales, it was a crushing defeat. Moments before his concession speech, his wife, Dori Foster-Morales, crumbled into tears. Morales comforted her before the couple and their children stepped into a private room to compose themselves.

''We gave it our best,'' Morales said. ``What are you going to do?''

Morales said he would not rule out a return to politics, and he wished Alvarez the best.

''I'm going to work with him and give him my support,'' Morales said. ``Clearly, Carlos has a track record of public service.''

UPBEAT MOOD

The mood at the Alvarez campaign could not have been more different. Children dancing to Celia Cruz songs got the party started, while supporters and members of the media swarmed around Alvarez.

Alvarez said his priority was ''finding the right county manager.'' He met with the present manager, George Burgess, last week and said he believes that he can work with him.

For Alvarez, Tuesday night marked the sweet end of a tempestuous race that few people thought he would win when he started.

The mayoral campaign began as a relatively clean contest among eight candidates during the primary, with no negative advertisements and few attacks. But once it boiled down to a two-man race between Morales and Alvarez, it turned rougher.

In a high-profile debate, Alvarez challenged Morales' ethics in fundraising. A few days later, Morales began a steady bombardment of negative advertisements on television questioning Alvarez's decision-making ability as a police chief and his commitment to fighting corruption -- perceived by many as Alvarez's greatest strength.

Taking the high road, Alvarez never fired back with negative advertisements of his own. Instead, when he wanted to criticize Morales, he did it in person during debates, giving Morales a chance to respond.

Asked how he felt about the negative turn in the race, Morales said the bitter rhetoric was unavoidable.

''One-on-one, the candidates had to distinguish themselves,'' he said. ``Compared to the acrimony in the U.S. Senate race, we were tame by comparison.''

`A REALLY GOOD GUY'

Among Alvarez's supporters was Gov. Jeb Bush, who is from Miami and voted for the former police chief. Both men are Republicans.

''He's a really good guy,'' Bush said of Alvarez.

Others who voted for Alvarez said he seemed trustworthy.

''He comes across as a straight-shooter,'' said Pedro Gomez, 51, a West Miami-Dade resident interviewed outside Versailles restaurant. ``He is someone I think will make us proud.''

Alvarez has not only a strong mandate from voters, but also the means to bankroll the county's infrastructure improvements during the next few years. Voters approved the $2.9 billion in bonds proposed by the county, which means that Alvarez and the County Commission will have the money to improve everything from libraries to bridges to sewers.

Alvarez fashioned himself as the outsider to politics, savvy enough to know where all the crooks are hidden and courageous enough to push them out of the public coffers. Critics said that he was too stubborn and autocratic to be mayor, and Morales charged that he lacked the vision to lead.

But in the end, it was trust that propelled Alvarez past Morales.

''He seems like a more trustworthy person,'' said Angela Hernandez, 62, as she waited in line to vote at Treasure Island Elementary School in North Bay Village.

MONEY GAP

Alvarez raised about half of the sum that Morales raised in the primary campaign, but during the runoff, the money gap closed, with Alvarez and Morales raising about $1 million each.

Alvarez heavily targeted Hispanic voters and seemed to have received heavy support from Cuban Americans. Morales drew wide support from black and Jewish voters.

Morales served as commissioner for eight years, focusing on reform in the county government. He is a partner in a downtown Miami law firm and plans to continue to work there.

Morales, who said from the beginning of his campaign that his priority would be to fight poverty, drew wide support from labor unions, which viewed his as a champion of the working class.

''I think he sees it,'' said Eddie Caldwell, a postal worker and union member from Opa-locka, who voted for Morales at the Ingram Park precinct. ``I think he's real.''

As for Alvarez, he said he will take a day off this weekend to watch the University of Miami football game.

He assured voters that they made the right choice.

''There is a time and a place for everything,'' he said, ``and I truly believe this is my time and place.''

Mayor - Miami-Dade - 856 of 856 Precincts Reporting
 Name                     Votes             Pct
 Alvarez, Carlos       360,885        54.55
 Morales, Jimmy      300,626        45.45
 
Herald staff writers Gary Fineout, Trenton Daniel, Susan Anasagasti, Jacqueline Charles and Jennifer Mooney Piedra contributed to this report.